Four Minutes - ESPN’s movie about Sir Roger Bannister & his will to succeed
Posted November 30th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Danielle Correa
Section: Motivation, Movies, Special Features, TFS Reviews
Four Minutes, an ESPN movie, is based on the true story of Roger Bannister and his quest to run a four minute mile. It is the perfect motivational film to watch the night before a big race. With an outstanding cast and a driven plot, Four Minutes is a very emotional and touching running flick.
At the opening of the movie, we are introduced to Bannister, played by Jamie Maclachlan, a British medical student who has a deep love for running. Bannister is running alongside a beach at a young age. Within minutes, he evolves into the 18-year old man that we begin to know and love. In a conversation with his father, Bannister discusses how great it would be to achieve the challenge of the four-minute mile, the most famous barrier in sports history. However, his father tells him, “Neither the heart nor the lungs could take it.”
Roger is a determined young man and an excellent medical student at Oxford. He is admired by his professors and his peers. He had been involved with his high school cross-country team and decided to try out running for Oxford’s team and is focused on the 1 mile race. At practice and in his first race (that he wins in 4 minutes and 30 seconds), Archie, a former track star, notices Bannister’s running abilities and talent. Archie believes that Bannister could be the one to break the 4-minute mile in the upcoming Olympics if he was properly trained, and offers to coach him. Bannister takes up the offer, but starts to feel that training with the coach is a “disaster” and discontinues his training. He didn’t think it was possible to get into shape and train to break the record while also being a serious medical student. Bannister’s girlfriend, Annabelle, leaves for America and tells Bannister that she wants to remain living there since anything is possible here.
Roger, devastated that his girlfriend has left, continues with his studies but also allows running to once again take center stage in his life. It is amazing how he was capable of regaining his focus after the girl he loved left the country; demonstrating his discipline and dedication to achieving his goals. Roger resumes his training with Archie and improves his mile P.R. to 4 minutes and 11 seconds. You can see the determination in Roger’s face, covered in sweat, as he practices. He truly has the look of a champion.
Bannister believes that all work and no play makes a gold medal winner. When it came time for the 1952 Summer Olympics, everyone is watching and routing for Bannister; having faith in his abilities and believing in his spirit. However, Bannister finishes a disappointing fourth in the Olympic race.
This was an emotional and depressing time for Bannister. He felt like a failure and that he let everyone down. He wants to quit for good and loses faith in himself. However, many people, including his new girlfriend Moyra, are behind him and feel that he has the potential, determination and will to win this race in four minutes. Moyra tells Roger that the only way he would be a failure is if he gave up on his dreams and ignored the 4-minute challenge that everyone knew he was capable of achieving. Archie believes that Roger could be the “finest runner of his generation.”
Bannister’s self-determination, guidance, and dedication lead him to break the world record of the four-minute mile in the end. Bannister proves that anyone who embraces their inner strength and passion can achieve their dreams, no matter how hard or distant they may seem.
I recommend this movie for any person who is determined to reach their goals - whatever they may be - and wishes to realize their dreams. It is the perfect movie to turn on the night before a big race or track meet; or even when you are just feeling down and need a pick-me-up. Bannister went through rough times and had to do some soul-searching, but he always got back out there; leading him to achieve his dreams: becoming both a successful doctor and of course, running the illustrious four-minute mile.
Check out Sir Roger Bannister quotes and other motivational statements on TFS’s “Famous Quotes” page.
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Tags: 4:00, ESPN, four minutes, motivation, movie review, movies, pump up, review, Roger Bannister
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The Final Sprint
For those who may not be aware, Archie Mason (the coach depicted in “Four Minutes”)is a fictional character. This doesn’t take away from the inspirational theme of the film, or that character, by any means, but the real coach of Bannister (and Chataway and Brasher) was the equally inspirational (and real) Austrian athletics coach, Franz Stampfl. I’m not sure why ESPN did not stick to the facts with their depiction of events (as the 1988 mini-series, “The Four Minute Mile” (ABC/BBC) did), but Franz himself was a fascinating and talented man and deserves to be credited for his involvement in this historical athletics moment.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:26 am